With the introduction of the Rane DJ SEVENTY-TWO comes a redesigned and adjustable new fader: the MAG THREE. The MAG THREE is a non-contact, magnetic fader just like its predecessor, but boasts a newly designed carrier piece that is 160x stronger. The fader is now more adjustable than ever with an easy-to-use tension adjustment, fader contour, and reverse controls, as well as a cut-in adjustment available in the SEVENTY-TWO internal settings menu. In this guide, we'll show how to use each of these settings, as well as how to remove and adjust the fader tension on the SEVENTY-TWO.


Contents



Video Demonstration

  • 33:00 What is new with the MAG THREE faders
  • 51:00 How to adjust fader cut-in
  • 49:00 How to adjust contour, reverse, and deck swap
  • 31:00 How to remove the faceplate to access the faders
  • 21:00 How to adjust the fader tension
  • 58:00 How to remove the faders from the mixer
  • 09:00 How the MAG THREE fader works
  • 51:00 How to lubricate the fader, and what type of lubricant to use
  • 37:00 How to troubleshoot and fix stiff fader due to stuck magnet (method 1)
  • 07:00 How to disassemble the MAG THREE fader itself
  • 09:00 How to troubleshoot and fix stiff fader due to stuck magnet (method 1)
  • 28:00 How to reassemble the fader
  • 36:00 How to reinstall the fader



Setting the Fader Cut-in

The fader cut-in will create a "dead-space" between the physical end-points of the crossfader and the point at which the mixer starts tracking the fader movement. Consider it a buffer zone or a larger target for turning the fader on or off. Some will prefer a bigger buffer zone, whereas others will prefer little to no cut-in in order to create a sharp and defined on and off point. 


Instead of relying on hidden fader cut-in adjustment screws on the fader, or using an easily "bump-able" knob, the SEVENTY-TWO puts this setting right at your fingertips. It's easy to set and save-able with the rest of your settings by using the SEVENTY-TWO control panel application. The SEVENTY-TWO will allow you to set the cut-in value for the fader start position and the crossfader left/right positions. 


  1. Press SHIFT and View/Menu, or hold the View/Menu button to access the SEVENTY-TWO menu. 
  2. Choose Cut-in Adjust from the menu.
  3. Touch any of the faders on the screen to start the process. For the crossfader, push the crossfader over to the side you would like to adjust before selecting it. 
  4. Push the fader to set the cut-in value (between 0 and 16mm), then press the SET button at the bottom of the screen. 
  5. You will then see your cut-in value displayed in blue on the display. 



Removing the Fader Panel and Adjusting Fader Tension

Fader removal and adjustment or replacement are made easy with the SEVENTY-TWO. Not only are all the faders inter-changeable, but they can all be accessed by removing a single panel. 


Before you begin: Make sure that the SEVENTY-TWO is unplugged from a power source and in a sturdy position and clean environment to prevent any dust or debris from entering the mixer. You will need a Phillips head and a flathead screwdriver to adjust the fader tension. 

  1. Start by removing the fader caps from each of the channel faders and the crossfader. 
  2. Remove each of the Six (6) screws holding down the fader plate. Place the screws in a safe place so that they do not get lost. 
  3. Remove the fader plate.
  4. Now each fader can be removed individually to set the tension to your personal preference, or in some cases, replace the fader entirely. To set the tension, use the flathead head screw on the side of the fader. Turn right to tighten and turn left to loosen the tension. 



Adjusting Fader Contour and Reverse

Fader contour and reverse are common and easy to adjust fader settings that allow you to personalize the feel of your instrument. Much like a guitar player, may prefer a particular string tension or bend the strings to change the sound, reversing the crossfader or changing the mix contour allow you to play the SEVENTY-TWO the way you prefer. 



Fader Revers (a.k.a Hamster Switch)

The fader reverse switches do exactly what you would expect: they reverse the action of the fader.

  • With channel fader reverse set to ON, the channel level will be all the way off when the fader is set in the up-most position and at full volume at the lowest fader position.
  • With the crossfader reverse set to ON, Decks 1 and 2 will be assigned to the opposite sides of the crossfader: Deck 1 on the right and Deck 2 on the left. 


Reversing the crossfader has been an old trick for turntablists, commonly referred to as "Hamster Style". For some DJs, this is the only mode of operation and for others, it's just a trick to get a different sound out of the decks. No matter what you prefer, the SEVENTY-TWO is ready to perform. 


Note: If your decks are reversed and all reverse switches are set to OFF, check that the decks are connected to the correct inputs. 



Fader Contour

Fader contour adjusts the slope of the fader curve, or in other words, the "feel" of the fader. This decides how quickly the fader will cut to a different source (i.e. the length of the fade between decks), or in the case of the channel faders, how fast the channel will turn off or on when moving the fader up and down.


Where the contour is set, most notably with the crossfader, is often a direct reflection of the performer. The default setting (the center position) is commonly used by club performers, but scratch DJs prefer a sharper cut (fast setting) for faster switching between the two decks with little to no fade between the signals